The Knight Hennessy Scholarship in the USA (Fully Funded) will choose 100 deserving students from all over the world each year who have demonstrated leadership potential and civic involvement in an effort to develop a new generation of global leaders. These students will be fully supported in their pursuit of a thorough graduate education at Stanford University.
An international graduate-level scholarship program for Stanford University study is called Knight Hennessy Scholarship. The 2016-founded program equips students to assume leadership positions in coming up with innovative solutions to pressing global problems.
Knight Hennessy Scholarship Summary
| Host Country | USA |
| Host Institute | Stanford University |
| Scholarship Type | Fully Funded |
| No. of Scholarships | 100 |
| Eligible Nationality | All |
| Benefit | Fully Funded + No Application Fee |
| Opening Date | The KHS application to join the 2026 cohort will open in summer 2025. |
The Knight Hennessy Scholarship draws inspiration from initiatives like the Rhodes Scholarship and aims to draw applicants from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Scholars have the opportunity to mentorship with thought leaders in the industry, government, and nonprofit industries in addition to their graduate studies, leadership development programs, and immersion study tours.
Any of the more than 125 graduate programs offered by the Knight Hennessy Scholarship at Stanford University across seven schools, including the humanities, social sciences, engineering, business, law, medicine, and education, are fully funded. Programme emphasizes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving and is available to applicants from all disciplines.
For up to three years of study, selected scholars are given support that covers tuition, fees, and a living allowance. Additionally, they have access to mentorship programs, a broad network of scholars from around the world, and possibilities for leadership development
The Knight Hennessy Scholarship program has a very competitive selection process. It assesses candidates based on their intellectual prowess, leadership potential, and evidence of a dedication to serving others. The program is looking for people with a clear sense of purpose, intellectual independence, and a willingness to work with others and take chances.
Admission to Stanford
There are no limitations on age, college or university, subject of study, or intended career path for the Knight Hennessy Scholarship. All residents and citizens are encouraged to apply.
You must possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or university and meet the requirements of the graduate program(s) you desire to pursue to be eligible for graduate study at Stanford University.
- For the Knight Hennessy Scholarship, there are no age, college or university, subject of study, or desired professional path restrictions. Applications are encouraged from all residents and citizens.
- If you will complete your first degree by September 2025, you must be a current college student to qualify.
First, you must apply to, be accepted by, and register in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such as, but not limited to, a DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD program in addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). At least one of the following four requirements must be met by you:
- You are applying independently but simultaneously to KHS and a full-time graduate program at Stanford so that you can begin both in the same academic year.
- You will apply to KHS so that you can start both in the same year even if you have already been admitted to a full-time Stanford graduate degree program and have chosen to defer your start date.
- You are a current graduate student at Stanford who will submit an application to add a second full-time graduate degree program so that you can begin KHS and the new program in the same academic year.
- You are currently enrolled in your first year of the PhD program at Stanford, and you plan to apply to KHS so that you can begin KHS in your second year of PhD enrollment.
Deadline
- The KHS application to join the 2026 cohort will open in summer 2025.
Documents Required
The resume, transcripts and test scores, recommendation letters, short answers, and essays are required along with the online application form,
Resume
Create a one-page resume that showcases your accomplishments in reverse chronological order and lists your experiences, interests, and academic background. Please list any relevant professional or extracurricular experience you may have. Please choose a font size that makes it possible to read your content.
Transcript(s) & Test Scores
Please scan and upload transcripts showing your undergraduate grades (and graduate grades, if appropriate) from each college you attended for at least one academic year.
Recommendation Letters
Request two reference letters from people who are qualified to write them, are enthusiastic about supporting your candidature, and have the time to write a powerful recommendation. These endorsers must be able to give particular illustrations, anecdotes, and proof.
Short Answers & Essay
The short-answer questions ask you to describe in your own words your past experiences, current identity, and future goals.
Please respond to these three questions:
- How will your time as a Knight Hennessy Scholarship equip you to carry out your short- and long-term goals? (250 maximum words)
- Please share a time when you: a) made someone incredibly proud of you; b) faced your greatest difficulty; and c) failed to live up to expectations. (Total word count: 150)
- Please share with us eight unlikely facts about yourself that are actually true. (Total word count: 150)
The essay challenge encourages you to think carefully about the people, occasions, and circumstances that have influenced your life’s path.
Application Process
Both the Knight Hennessy Scholarship application and the application for your Stanford graduate degree program must be submitted simultaneously. This is true for applicants looking to enroll in their first graduate program at Stanford as well as current Stanford graduate students who are adding a second graduate degree. The Stanford application deadline varies by program, unlike the KHS application, which has a standard date for everyone. To confirm the deadline for KHS applicants, contact the program you’re interested in.
You only need to submit one application to be considered for Knight Hennessy Scholarship if you have already been admitted and deferred admission to start a full-time graduate program at Stanford in 2025, or if you are a Stanford PhD student who will start your PhD in 2024 and start your second year in 2025.
Fill out and submit the online admission application, including your personal and academic details, etc. In order to better understand you, we enquire about your contact information, basic biographical and demographic information, and a description of your activities, experiences, and interests, among other things.
While you might be tempted to skip over or simplify sections that duplicate material on your resume, we strongly advise you to provide complete answers to all questions requesting background information. We like learning more about your extracurricular pursuits, professional experiences, and personal interests.
Knight Hennessy Scholarship are not required to pay an application fee, but you must do so when you submit your graduate program application.
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